with Hipocrites but blesse the Lord in fayth and thou shalt be blessed OH God of vnspeakable mercie father of meruailous louing kindnes the onelie giuer of all good and perfect giftes who art more readie to giue then we to aske hearing befor we cal and giuing before we desire thinges necessary for vs I yeelde thee humble thankes for thy continuall fauour and louing kindnes towards vs thy creatures for whose saluation when we were lost thou wast contented euen of thy meere loue to sende thine onely delight into this world thy sonne Iesus Christe taking humaine nature vpon him and abyding the most bitter pangs of death vpon the Crosse to redeeme vs againe into thy fauour which by our disobedience was lost from darcknes wherevnto our blindnes had broughte vs into the lighte of trueth from ignoraunce and errour to wisedome knowledge Oh what greater comfort what greater ioy what a greater benefite coulde thy diuinitie haue bestowed vppon silly man then being of a castaway to bee made a saued soule of a lost sonne made the child of God and of a poore banished wretch to bee made an inheritor of the kingdome of heauen Lorde if it were possible for vs to yeelde vnto thee as manie thankes and prayses as coulde fill euen thine eates at the ful did yeelde our bodies and soules to bitter torments in hell for thy sake frō which thou hast redeemed vs it were nothing in recompence of the least parte of thys thy loue in giuing this sacrifice thy sonne in whom was thine onely and whole delight to pacifie thine owne displeasure and to purchase thy fauour and loue againe a thing most merueilous that the offended shoulde seeke tha'ttonement with the offendour and after so vnspeakable a meane and yet requiring nothing at our hands but thankfulnes obedient harts Lord I yeelde thee all possible thanks I yeelde thee thankes euen frō the bottome of mine heart from the very depth of mine vnderstanding who hast deserued more then we can by any means in desire satisfie or any way requite not onely in gyuing thy sonne for vs but in leauing vnto vs a continual rememberance of the same thy gospel wherin consisteth the rule for our direction vnto thee euen thy word which although heauen and earth passe and perishe yet shall not one iotte thereof as thou hast promised deminishe or decay without the which we shoulde haue continued in our accustomed blindnes These thy benefites are vnspeakable yet sweete Lord the creating of vs after thy likenes making vs after thine owne image deserueth no lesse praise and thanks where it lay in thy power to haue fashioned vs after sundry other formes as of wormes in the earth fishes in the sea beasts of the land most owgly and most straunge hauing neither the knowledge of thy will sence or seeling of thy goodnes which is the sweetest comfort in the world yea without the which is no true comfort at all nor enioy any quality either of body or minde which is any thing at all comparable to the gifts which thou hast endued mankinde withall I thanke thee also sweete Lord for all other thine vnspeakable mercies benefits as for feding vs clothing vs protecting vs hetherto giuing vs al thīgs necessary both for our soules bodies lord as of thy free fauor meere mercy thou hast vouchsafed vnto vs thy creatures all these and many other vnspeakable benefittes So vouchsafe the like loue and tender care towardes vs alwaies that we may prosper in our vocations goe forward in the daily seruice of thee and through the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christ obteyne pardon for our sinnes past and liue in thy faith feare and loue heereafter enioying all thinges requisite for mine owne and for the releefe of those whom thou hast committed vnto me and also for all other thy seruauntes so that we may haue sufficient and not be chargeable but rather helpfull to others for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake graunt it Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth A deuoute prayer or Meditation that we may alwaies haue consideration that we must dye which as it is good at all times so especially in the time of any common plague or sicknes a godly meditation Remember as thou art a man So must thou dye none helpe it can No thing more sure the time vnsure Wherefore take heede liue not secure SYlenas the Philosopher hauing it but by the instinct of nature before the publishing of the gospell could see furder into the estate of man in those dayes then wee endeuour to vnderstande liuing too securelye nowe in the cleere light of the same For his opinion was that if wee consider with our selues what we are whereof we are and what we shall be wee coulde not but lament our miserable estate This saying of his was meruailous then when men liued in darknes but muche more meruailous that it is no better considered nowe in the time of the light of truth For wher we shoulde haue great care to liue well wee liue in wicked securitie and where we shoulde haue greater care to dye well wee foolishlye thinke to liue for euer But let vs perswade our selues and not only perswade but fully resolue our selues that we shall dye and let vs endeuour to make a good ende for a good ende excuseth a badde life paste And euen so likewise is an euill ende a greate argument of an euyll life For sake sinne and imbrace deathe wyllynglye so shalt thou seeme happye in this life and not vnhappye at the howre of death In the morning thinke not to liue tyll night and at night thinke not to liue tyll morninge So shalt thou lyue so muche the more cyrcumspectlye and bee alwayes readye to dye Account thy selfe in thys worlde but as a gueste that lodgeth for a nyght and departeth in the morning and as a wandryng Pylgrime of no certayne abode lyst vppe thy mynde to God Ecclesi 4 hauing heere no certayne Citty for if thou liue tenne or an hundred or a thousande yeeres there is no helpe but the graue muste bee thine end Blessed are they Reu 14. that dye in the Lorde VVherefore prepare thy selfe to dye not in your owne wisedome for that will deceiue you But in the wisedome of GOD that your hope may be sure his ioyes yours and his goodnes your inhearitaunce OH God the onely giuer of life the mainteyner and preseruer thereof and the life after death graunt me continuall due consideration that as this bodie of myne is builded vpon an earthly foundation and framed of the substaunce of dust and clay which is not durable the glory thereof vanishing like the flowre of the fielde which is soone cutte downe and withered So the same beeing the mansion or rather the Prison of my poore soule so frayle weake and feeble subiect to so many infirmities diseases greefes and maladies yea to so many causes that procure the dissolution of bodye and soule
that it often happeneth wheÌ„ we think least thereon it commeth sodamly as the lightninge and taketh vs vnwares VVherefore grant Oh GOD of my life that I may haue such continuall care foresighte and dylligent respect vnto the direction of my dealinges cogitations and wordes that I loade not my poore soule so muche with the burden of scenlesse securitye sinne and iniquitye that the bodye beeing sodainly intangled with the snare of deathe it bee carryed where there is no reste no ioye no comforte or consolation but continual mourning weeping and anguishe of minde as the Glutton spoken of in thine holy Gospell who going on blindly loosly and carelesly without regarde eyther of thee or remem braunce of his ende in moste detestable couetousnes and all kinde of wickednes was sodainly taken from hys mucke wealth which he had wrongfully gotten and myserably whorded vppe and yet denying poore Lazarus the croomes that fell and were taken from his table but was carried by the deuyll and his Angells into euerlasting and moste bitter tormentes where was weeping and gnashing of teeth Oh my sweete Lord let not mine heart be so blinded with the vale of vanitie nor nouseled in the delightes of this world so intangeled in the nette of concupiscence nor clad in the weedes of wilfull forgetfulnes of mine estate that I bee taken as the ritch man who deuising within him selfe to enlarge hys Barnes wherin he might conuey his graine so much encreasing who standing in his euill conceite of couetousnes thinking himselfe most secure was taken vnawares from his aboundaunce and left hys riches he knew not to whom Oh most gratious and most louing God a most vnhappy end wherin steed of heauenly contemplations and godly cogitations which thou requirest at al times of such as are thine but especially at the houre of death there appeared a most horrible intent of couetousnes which thou vtterly abhorrest a manifest token good Lorde of forgetfulnes of his ende and an argument that hee was the childe of Sathan But thou shewest mercye to as many as conuert and turne to thee Oh my most louing father lighten mine eyes that I sleepe not in sinne nor wander in darknes according to the will of the fleshe that I fall not vnawares into the dungion of distruction death and hell but make me alwaies ready and willing to come vnto thee euen with desire when it pleaseth thee to call me by laying thy hande by any plague or sicknes vpon me let me not drawe me as it were backwarde when thou inuitest me to the sweete banquet of thine heauenly kingdome as by the worde and gospell preached and reueiled vnto vs which is an especiall calling vs or when I feele my selfe distempered greeued or vexed with any kinde of sicknes plague or disease which is another of thy callinges and an especiall warning that we must dye or when by course of time in extreame age wee may imagine our ende to be neere but Lord when I am at my dayly busines and laboure when I eate or drinke when I am in my best temperature health in childehoode and young yeeres at all times and in all places giue me grace to thinke that death standeth at mine elbowe alwayes ready to strike mee that I sleepe not in sinne and securitie till the time sodainly come of my departure and so be taken vnprouided and perish withour repentaunce who can perswade him selfe to liue long and see many daies especially in daungerous and contagious times of sicknes and seeing so many examples dayly to the contrary euen in the most temperate time of health some we see at their Mothers pappes by humaine indgement likely to liue sodainely to giue vppe the ghoste some in theyr youth some in middle yeeres yea when grauest experience aboundeth to be sodainly called away to be no more seene Al which notwithstanding Oh Lord such is the blindnes of our nature that we think this world a coÌ„tinual being for vs and couer euen with greedines to see many dayes where we heape sinne vpon sinne to the ouerburdening of our poore soules seldome or not at all thinking to dye Graunt sweete Lorde that as I desire to liue so I may haue a greater desire to liue well that I may make an happy ende abandoning all feare of death that the cogitation thereof may dwell in peace with in the mansion of mine heart and when it shall approche neere vnto me I flie not from it but may goe foorth with ioy to meete the same considering that it is a meane to ende my cares and to begin my ioy it is the finishing of sorrow and enteraunce into blisse which made thy seruaunt Paule to say That he desired to be deliuered of the burden of this life and to be with thee where is nothing but ioyes vnspeakable and contrarie heere on earth nothing but care and woe which mooued thy seruaunt Iob to call this life a warfare and this world a wildernes and vale of misery where is nothing but conflictes betweene the flesh and the spirite dayly increase of sinne and continuall care of vanities Oh good God giue vs carefull hearts to loue thee while we liue heere giue vs continual feare vnfeyned zeale perfit faith godly care to doo good to all men and earnest desire to come vnto thee who art the ende of all trouble and laboure and the beginning of ease the ende of strife and the beginning of peace the ende of all misery and the beginning of all blisse wherevnto sweete Lord graunt that with vnseyned desiâ—e we may faithfully endeuour our selues to come and to take possession of that thy most glorious kingdome where thy sonne is gonne before to direct vs the way and where thou sittest to iudge according to euerye mans desertes making all those that thou findest with the Lampe of true faith burning in their harts partakers of the euerlasting ioyes thereof In number of whome Oh sweete Lord accept me heere that I may appeare among them in the world to come through Iesus Christ our Lorde in whose name I commend my selfe into thy handes to liue for euer in thee sweete God Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose OH God in whose handes consisteth the life of all mankind for thy Sonne Jesus Christes sake vouchsafe to giue me grace to sett before mine eyes as a most certaine mark where vnto this frayle body of mine must tende it selfe the Image of that which is to the faythfull the ende of payne and beginning of pleasure the ende of misery and beginning of blisse but to the secure and careles the ende of their pleasures and beginning of eternall paynes Ueuchsafe me therefore earnest desire of seruing thée and leading my life according vnto thy will that wheÌ„ so euer it pleaseth thee to call me I be not through feare striken with doubt of condemnation but euen at my laste gaspe through vnfayned faith in Jesus Christ may take
143 6. Lord let me heare thy louing kindnesse betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust So let vs yeelde his maiestie due prayses for his continuall louing kindnes towardes vs saying OH almightie God father of our lorde Iesus Christ who hast vouchsafed of thy thy great fauour loue euen from my childhood vnto this day to take such fatherly care of me that nothing hath destroied or hurte me but haue beene saselie preserued bothe day and night froÌ„ sodaine death and from all other perrils and dangers incident vnto mankinde haue all my life beene preserued And of thy free fauour and loue without aâ—â—e deserte or merite of mine to my great comforte enioyed the sweete benefite of sleepe and rest which is most wholesome for my poore and weake body yea and so good a nuâ—â—iture therevnto as good soile to the barraine field or thy timely showres to the dry ground or meate acceptable to the hungry stomacke Oh sweete Lord such hath beene thy fatherly care of me this night past that the sleepe which thou hast giuen me is most coÌ„fortable bothe to my bodie and soule in so much as I am the more aptly giuen to the execution of my worldlie busines and the seruice of thy diuine maiestie this morning wherein asist me sweete Lorde with the helpe of thine holie spirite comfort and defende me this day and euer with thy mercifull ayde that none affliction hurte or misfortune dismay me no tribulation or anguish of minde draw me from thee no worldlie care delight or fantasie carrie me at any time into anie wicked cogitation action or speeche for Lord I knowe that it is not thy wil that any euill shouldedwell in vs or that we shoulde at anie time offende thee but to keepe our hearts pure and vndefiled as a fitte receptacle for thy Maiestie Yet thou sufferest sometimes vnlawfull affections to haue the vpper hande to the end that we feeling our weaknes and corruption should wholie confesse all our strength all our godlie cogitations and workes to proceede from thee And for that all flesh is full of sinne and that the iust fall seauen times a day forgiue Lord my wickednes mine offences and sinne committed either this night past by foolish dreames fantasies or other temptations or at anie time since I came into this miserable worlde beeing a moste sinfull creature and that beeing pardoned by thy mercie in Iesus Christ I may proceede in the residue of my dayes gouerned by thy holie spirite voyde of all offences vsing my vocation and calling so as may be to the setting foorth of thy glorie maintenaunce of thy fauoure towardes me and getting those thinges which may be sufficient for the maintenaunce of mine estate heere and for the reliefe of such as are committed to my charge And graunt me alwaies such regarde of seruing thee as thine hande may alwaies directe mee to good and happy successe in all mine affayres Blesse thou the worke of mine handes good Lorde and graunt mee so to flye ydlenes the mother and Nurce of all euill that both this day and all my life I may by godlie care and trauaile get me a sufficient competent liuing heere that I be no burden and charge to such as are rich and welthie nor depend vpon the succor helpe and furtheraunce of others whose helpe is moste slippery and deceitfull Least that in hope thereof I giuing my selfe to ydlenes and loytering when their helpe shalbe with-holden from me I be driuen as the wise man sayth to goe in a ragged coate to want my foode But contrary wise Oh Lorde graunt that I may so imploy my selfe to laboure and dilligent execution of thy busines this day and euer that I may through my blessing luckelie prosper therein and shew my selfe so helpefull to the poore impotent and needy as the fruite of my trauaile shall extende vnto That thou maiest fulfill in me that most sweete promise of thine That who so considereth the poore and needye thou wilt deliuer him in the tyme of trouble Lord thy mercie is infinite and thy loue towardes vs vnspeakeable wherefore giue me grace alwayes to serue thee yea at all times and in all places both in laboure and rest welth and pouertie sicknes and health yea all my life and at the howre of my death that I may passe this day and all the rest of my transitorye life in the fulfilling of thy lawes and be readie at thy fauourable becke and call to come and appeare before thy throne of mercie in perfect hope of thy louing receiuing me into the bosome of thy sweete imbracinges not for my woorthines or dâ—serces which is but corruption but for the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christ there to rest inioying the fruites and benefit of his death and bitter passion in whose name I referre my selfe and all mine both this day and euer vnto thy Fatherlie protection humbly beseeching thee to direct almy thoughtes wordes and actions vnto my liues ende Good God Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose I Thanke thee most mercifull Father my maker and preseruer that thou hast so louinglie vouchsafed to tender my safety this night past giuing me sweete sléepe to the refreshment of my feeble and weake bodye So of thy goodnes vouchsafe to extend y e like louing fauour to wardes me this day whereby I may bée both safelie preserued from all kinde of euill and imploy my selfe dilligentlie vnto the execution of my vocation to the releefe of mee and mine and to thy glory Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer for the Queene What so thou he pray God alwayes To blesse our Queene with happy dayes Whose wisedome vnder God so long Hath kept this Realme from sorrame wrong THe vnspeakeable benefite of our long peace and gratious tranquilitie may without manie circumstaunces or manie wordes suffice to mooue thankfull mindes to praise the God of Heauen for his vnspeakable loue towardes vs in giuing vs so gratious a gouernesse vnder whom we haue not only these xxv yeeres peaceablye liued but enioyed the comfortable passage and foode of the gospell when manie other nations haue wanted the same to the famishing as it were of their poore soules wherefore considering that wee may if not the more to our shame feede thereof at ful and thereto freendlie intreated and inioyned not onelie which is generall by the word it selfe but by seuerall iniunctions sette forth for the further aunce of Gods glorie and our profit by her maiestie in England onelie And therefore as we ought for all men so especiallie we are commanded to pray for the good prosperous estate of Kings and Princes and those in authoritie 2. Tim. 2. Let vs as we haue vnspeakable cause beseeche God of his goodnesse fauourably to looke vpon our most gratious Queene Elizabeth to graunt vnto her a prosperous raigne with manie and happie dayes to the plesure of him and comfort of vs Let
bitter and most perilous insomuch as it bringeth shame and confussion to the so vnaduised enterprisers of the same Lord thou sayest that a Sparrow can not light on the grounde without thy permission and prouidence which is a creature of small value in respect of man whom thou hast made to thine owne image and likenes and whom thou accountest of more value then many Sparrowes in respect whereof good Lord and for thy meere mercies sake extende so thy fauourable care vnto me thy frayle creature that all mine intents may haue theyr beginning by the working of thine holie spirite and mine actions end in the same and not according to the motions of mine owne foolish desires Thou like a most louing father willest vs to take counsaile at thee in all our exercises concerning either bodie or soule before we proceede too farre in them Oh Lord blesse me with thine heauenly inspiration that my minde imagine nothing but what is according to the Lawe of righteousnes Oh Lord blesse the workes of mine hands the sight of mine eyes blesse mine eares that they hearkeÌ„ not but to the hearing of godly and vertuous communication and thine holie word my tongue lippes with decent speeche and my feete that they may keepe the way of righteousnes And place within the secret corners of my heart such due regard what I goe about or determine as before I proceed to farr in request of good luckie successe I may vnderstaÌ„d by the secrete working of thine holie spirite whether my request bee according vnto thy will And graunt that I neuer absolutelie craue thy furtherance in accomplishing any my desires vntil by the same spirite I be truelie resolued that my desires be lawfull consonaunt and agreeable to thy diuine wyll but may faithfully referre all my matters vnto thee whether they be heard or not heard whether presently or tarrying long not giuing ouer feeling in my selfe by thy grace that it pleaseth thee constantlie continuing thy good pleasure though it come not as I wish let me not by and by fall from my good beginning but perseuering in continuall prayers for thine assistaunce and fatherly helpe vnto the end for thou hast promised neuer to deceiue our godly disires nor to sende them away frustrate mercifully heare me Oh Lorde in time conuenient And attentiuely heare me approching vnto thee with vnfeyned desire and hope of thy helpe that when any plague any affliction misery or vexation shall come vpon me when the want of any necessary thing oppresseth me or accomplishing of any lawfull sute mooueth me I flying vnto thee as the fountaine from whence floweth all true helpe all perfect assistaunce all good successe and prosperous euents of all godlie endeuours not seeking any other by meane either to auoide the one or to obteine the other then thy fatherly directions and spirituall motions I may obteyne the same according vnto my necessities and in thy good time oh heauenly God for thy sonne our Lorde Iesus Christes sake graunt this sweete God Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose COnsidering mine owne blindnes ignoraunce and the wilfull obstinacie of my corrupt nature which seeketh rather the fulfilling of the fantasticall deuises of mine owne brayne then thy diuine will And to vse humaine ayde rather then to craue thine helpe vouchsafe I humbly beseeche thee to establish godlie feare in mine heart and vnfeyned obedience to thine holy ordinaunces that in all mine enterprises which in thy name I take in hande thou wilt vouchsafe to direct me according to thy will and to giue me prosperous successe for thy sonne Jesus Christes sake Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth The sorrowfull sinner afflicted in conscience by reason of his sinnes may say thus If thou with sinne afflicted be Oh then saith Christ come thou to me LEt vs acknowledge our selues to bee wretched sinners and with feare fall downe before the mercies seate of the highest iudge Contemning our selues to be moste vnrighteous and iustly deseruing confusion And then as S. Iohn sayeth 1. Ioh. 1. 9. wee shall finde God moste mercifull vnto vs who is most faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to clense vs from al our vnrighteousnes for hee desireth not the death of a sinner but that he turne from his wickednes and liue And therfore as Ezekiell sayth Ezek. 23. Turne you turne you from your wicked wayes for why sayeth he wil you dye in your sinnes And againe Ioell sayth Ioell 2. 13. Rent your hearts and not your garments and turne to the Lorde your God Because hee is gentle and mercifull and of much mercy and such a one as is sorye for your afflictions wherefore if thou bee afflicted in conscience by reason that thou haste beene a notorious offender remember Mary Magdalen whose wickednes was great vpon repentaunce receyued pardon as also the theefe and the Publicau and many other Dispayre not but in heartie prayer and by vnfeyned repentaunce turne to the Lord. O Almighty god father of merci who art more ready to giue then wee to aske more apt to pardon then we to repent more willing to receiue the contrite in heart into thy fauour and mercy againe then they to offer themselues by vnfeyned repeÌ„taunce Lorde I come heere prostrate in hearte before the throne of thine infinite mercie louing kindnes as one altogether ashamed to looke vpon the detestable vile and abhominable offences which I haue doone against thee beeing so heauie a burden for my poore soule that the shoulders of my poore diseased conscience beginne to sincke vnder the same and am altogether destitute of any proppe or meane to support the same or to ease me therof but onelie thy death and bitter passion sweet Iesus who camest into this worlde to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance Lord I bewayle mine heâ—nous offences and am moste sorye for my sins which are so vile the burden of them so intollerable that when I turne mine eyes but to the beholding them a farre off I am by and by stryken with so great dreade that I am driuen to most heauie sighes greeuous groanes and thinke my life an enemie vnto mee wishing the beginning of my dayes had beene the day of my departure out of this miserable worlde But moste sweete Lorde when I note them perfectlie in my minde take as it were a straight account what the deedes of my youth haue beene beeing indeede most lewde most euill most vile and sinfull what a terror doo I suffer in minde what a dungion of dollours doth open it selfe as it were to swallowe mee vp what gryping greefes doo torment my poore conscience in so much as I am at the pittes brincke of dispayre wauering in minde to and fro seeking rest but loe Lorde vnquietnes of minde oppresseth me so sore that considering with my selfe what I haue beene and what I am a greate matter vexeth me But when I looke into the time to
come the time wherein all mine offences and faults shall bee manifested and laid to my charge Oh then whether shall I flye thinke I whether shall I conueygh my selfe who shall hide mee from thy presence who shall saue me from thy iust iudgement Oh sweete Lord I am euen at my witts ende wishing for death and ende of my dayes And yet then the feare of the torments of hell fire so striueth in me to the contrarie that I quake at the rememberaunce thereof And when I couet to liue longer and see more daies Lord then I am striken with doubt and imagine that as my life hath beene euen from my byrth giuen and inclyned so greedelie to sinne and that the cause of my present dread I then loath and abhorre my longer continuance heere fearing least the aptnes of my corrupt flesh by the dayly rebellion thereof against the spirite heape greater plagues vpon my poore soule What shall I doo Lorde feare and dispayre thus oppressing me on all sides all hope of comfort hath left me onely greefe and sorrowe remaineth knowing not to whom to flie for succour or to whom to make my mone If to man I knowe his strength pollicie and wisedome and comfort to be vaine his nature inclined to weakenes and wickednes as mine and in him to be no helpe And seeking any woâ—ldly meane for pardon and remission of my sinne I acknowledge it altogether transitory superfiuous and to no purpose But the seeking therof to renue and increase my greefe that I shoulde leaue and giue ouer the true and onely platforme of my deliuery and seeke to a counterfeyt showe of ayde Oh God forbid that euer I shoulde but onely seeke for pardon of thy self whom most greeuously I haue offended and therefore to thee I fall prostrate euen in heart sweete Iesus the onely Phisition of all sicke soules in whose power consisteth the alone forgiuenes of sinnes be they neuer so many or great I come I come though altogether ashamed vnto thee my sauiour Iesus Christ who haste promised to be a Mediatour for the penitent vnto God the father It is thy property to call home such as wander and goe astray and to traine them vp in new wayes be theyr sinnes as redde as Scarlet thou hast sayde thou wilt make them as white as snowe and were they as purple thou canst make theÌ„ as white wooll Oh most sweete promise Oh comfortable saying Oh voyce of heauenly consolation whereby I am comforted whereby I am reuiued yea nowe is my conscience lightened now haue I founde the true onely Phisition of my long disease poore soule euen thy self sweet Iesus who callest mee I come I come Lord stretch forth thine hand and receiue mee giue mee perfecte hand fast of thys moste comfortable saying of thine let mee enioy the true working of this most singuler medicine thy death and bytter passion sweete Iesus who sufferedst for our sinnes camest to take away the punishment due for our transgression and to call vs to repentaunce without which there is no hope of remission of our sinnes Thy mercy is infinite thy loue vnsearchable and wisedome incomprehensible whereby thou callest vs whereby thou louest vs and whereby thou guydest vs And euen of meere loue which thou haste to the saluation of my poore soule whom thou wouldest rather should conuert then perish thou hast stirred vp in mine heart a lothing of my sinne wherein I haue walked and imbraced the same eueÌ„ with greedines Oh that I were as ready to come as thou to call So willing to leaue and giue ouer the fulfilling of vnlawfull desires as thou art to forgiue the same So apt to serue thee as thou art to saue me Then should sinne no more dwell in me nor I in it but should enioy thy continuall fauour and rest vnder the winges of thy mercy Oh Lorde I humbly beseeche thee that as it hath pleased thee to stirre me vppe at this time to repentaunce as thou hast called me home froÌ„ the wildernes of wickednes from deepe dispayre so to place me in the pleasaunt fieldes of sinceritie trueth and godlines as thou hast pluckt me out of the clawes of sathan so vouchsafe to holde me vnder the shaddow of thy winges and to imbrace me with the armes of thy mercy that I runne no longer after the vanities of this world nor yeelde vnto the vngodly motions of the fleshe that my minde beeing free from all sinfull cogitations I may keepe my bodie an vndefiled member of thy Church vnto my liues ende And although til thine appointed time this miserable vale must be my continuing cittie And although I must be driuen to vse this worlde according to the necessitie of worldlye causes as thy prouidence hath assigned euery man to exercise his vocation yet graunt that my minde may be continually conuersant in heauenly things and though my bodie wander in earth my soule spirite may haue theyr perfect beeing and abyding by perfect faith in heauen where thou sittest raigneth for euer Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A short prayer to the like purpose OH God whose propertie is euer to haue mercye yea whose mercy is infinite and loue incomprehensible and who haste not delight in the death of a sinner looke fauourably vpon me who haue so deepely offended thine heauenlie maiestie that I confesse nothing but condemnation due vnto me for my so manifolde iniquities my conscience accuseth me and mine heart bewraieth my disobedience beeing but a cast away vnlesse it may please thee for Iesus Christes sake to turne away thine indignation and to take away the plagues which I haue iustly deserued and punishments for the same which thou hast ordeyned Lord cease to be angry and according to thy mercy not to thy iustice deale with me but according to thy most louing promise my sinnes béeing as red as Scarlet may through my fayth in the death of Iesus Christ as white as Snow And as I haue hetherto folowed euen with greedines that which I should not giue me nowe grace to followe and imbrace that which thou commaundest in thy sonne Iesus Christ vnto my liues ende Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A prayer for a competent and necessary lyuing The God aboue vouchsafeth store To him in faith that prayes therfore ALthough thy store increase so greatly multiply that thou be sayne to enlarge thy roomes to bestowe thy fruites thinke thee not discharged of this most necessary exercise of praier but so much the more bound thervnto â—for it is not the increase of fruites the labour of thy handes or store of wealth that mainteyneth thy lyfe and feedeth thee vnlesse it be seasoned wyth the word of God which preserueth all that faythfully trust in him Matth. 24. For thou canst not liue by Breade alone which is with thinges necessarye for thy bodie but by the worde of almightye GOD And yet we are not onely licensed and permitted but most louinglye called to come
VV iddowes and be helpfull vnto them in their distresses Lord haue mercy vpon all men forgiue our enemies and such as persecute vs and if it please thee turne the heartes Fructifie those thinges on earth which thou hast appoynted for our vse and so increase the same that we may enioy the fruites thereof with sufficiencie for our necessities in time conuenient And vouchsafe to giue vs grace to fall downe vppon the knees of our hearts with vnfeyned repentannce of all our sinnes that we may obteyne at thy mercifull handes pardon for our offences negligences and ignoraunces and vouchsafe to endue vs with thine holy spirite that we may goe forward in daily amendmēt of our liues gouern the same according to thy wil. Amen Oh sonne of almighty God we beseeche thee to heare vs. Oh Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world graunt vs thy peace and haue mercy vpon vs. Oh Lord increase our fayth Amen A prayer for the fulfilling of the tenne Commaundements Pray that thou maiest fulfill the will Of him whose hand defends thee still And these precepts forget thou not Which Moyses for thy safety wrot BLessed is the man as sayth Dauid Psalm 1. 2. that delighteth in the Lawe of the Lorde and meditateth therein day and night he shall be blessed in his goodes in all that hee taketh in hand at his going out and his comming in and in all thinges But contrariwise he that declyneth from his commaundemēts and neglecteth them shall be accursed in all his waies and nothing shall prosper with him although for a tyme it flourishe in showe heere the ende of the same will be euill And therfore Dauid in all his prayers considering his owne infirmitie besought the Lord to instruct him in his commaundements saying make mee Oh God to vnderstand thy lawes and I will meditate vppon all thine wonderous works Yea his delight was in the commaundements of God And Saloman sayth Pro. 28. that hee that turneth away his eares from hearing the lawe his prayer shall be abhominable For it is the loue of God that we should keepe his commaundements 1. Ioh 5 Praye therefore that God will stirre vp in you an vnfeyned zeale in all your dooings and enterprises to obserue the law of the Lorde OH almighty Iehouah God of heauen earth who haste promised thy selfe euen from the beginning to be our Lorde and our God our shielde and our Fortresse our buckler and defence our Castell and refuge And who hast brought vs with a mighty and strong hand with an outstretched Arme out of the Lande wherein wee were straungers wherein we liued in bondage vnder the yoke and tytannye of Antechriste and sathan into the lande land that floweth with the Milke and Honny of true religion wherewith thou feedest the soules of thy faithfull ones Grant that as through thy meere mercye and loue thou vouchsafest to bring vs into this worlde and to frame vs to thine owne image and likenes So we may account thee as our onely God worshipping none other besides thee making vnto our selues none image of any likenes either of thinges aboue or thinges beneathe nor bowe or seeke helpe at the handes of any as a God beside thee who as by thy mightye power thou broughtest the children of Israell out of Egipt by the handes of Moses and Aaron where they were in bondage where they were continually oppressed with sundry kindes of vexations both of body and minde So hast thou vhuchsased to bring vs and to deliuer vs from a greater bondage seruitude and stauery euen from the power of Sathan vnder whose tyranny we rested and now escaped not by the pollicie strength or power of any Moyses but by the blod shedding of thine only son Iesus Christ who tooke vpon him the death of the crosse for our sakes to bring vs frō darknes wherein we walked according to the will of the flesh vnto the true knowledge of thee againe to redeeme vs out of the bondage of sin into the land of righteousnes from blinde ignoraunce to the bright shining day-starre of thine heauenly will who art not onely a most loouing and gentle Father but also a moste sharp punisher and reuenger who art not onely desirous that we should come vnto thee but art also most ielious ouer vs least we should seeke or follow any other God besides thee yea in all our afflictions and troubles to seeke onely vnto thee and beeing releeued to attribute the onely meane thereof vnto thy selfe whereby thou hast promised to bee mercifull vnto thousandes that loue thee feare thee seeke thee and truely take hold◠of thee as theyr onely God And againe threatnest thy vengeaunce and heauy displeasnre to continue vppon the thirde and fourth generation of them that hate thee and folow straunge Gods Oh sweete God vouchsafe that it may be farre from our mindes to haue any desire once to put our foote towardes any straunge Gods appeare their helpe neuer so likely or plentifull but that it bee bothe now and euer in our hearts to confesse both in word and conuersation that there is none other God besides thee who art most glorious and a most louing Father haue mercy vpon vs. And so vouchsafe to direct vs in all our dooinges cogitations and wordes as we may alwayes and in all thinges fulfil thy will neuer taking thine holy and most glorious name in vaine by blasphemous speeches dishonouring the same Keepe vs moste louing Father not onely from the most detestable sinne of periury whereby thine holy name is often defaced and as it were troden vnder foote as in making it the author of abhominable falshoodes and lyes but from all friuolous and vaine othes which to the great greefe of thy children are moste vncomly in the mouthes of such as vnreuerently and rashly vse it euen in common speeches without any vrgent cause or matter forcing wherby they fal into the most hemous sinne of taking thy most glorious name in vaine but that we may vse such a reuerent manner godly order of vsing thy name for trial of any matter in lawfull causes as thou maist alwaies find vs true hallowers of it therby And forasmuchas thou within sixe daies didst finish al things in the be ginning in the seauenth day didst rest from the same labor commanding vs likewise to obserue the sanctification of the same for euer and to rest from all labours trauailes and worldly busines and not onely our selues but all other whom thou hast committed to our charge as seruaunts Oxen and Asses and such like graunt that wee may not onely lay aside all worldly cares and busines on the Sabaoth day resting our wearied members but may in all thinges sanctifie it and keepe it holy with godly exercises diuine prayers and heauenly meditations with carefull and diligent regard to the auoyding of all wanton pastimes foolish and vncomly exercises and vnlawfull practises whereby oftentimes the affection beeing mooued to impatience powreth
haue vnto thine hands praying thee to direct me by thy grace wisdome to the bestowing it according vnto thy will In the name of thy sonne Iesus Christe to whome with thee and the holy ghost bee continuall laude and prayse for euer and euermore Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A short prayer to the like purpose OH God almighty the gyuer of all good thinges the onely stay of mankinde their guide and comfort giue grace vnto mee thy seruaunt that as thou hast blessed my store and increased my wealth in somuch as I haue not onely that which may suffice mine owne necessary want but haue also sufficient to releeue others in neede Driue from mine heart all naturall desire of more and giue me a will to distribute and according to the aboundaunce of my wealth to feede the hungry cloth the naked and to doo all thinges els which thou requirest of them on whom thou bestowest thy blessinges to the furtheraunce of godlines and not to liue to my selfe and for my selfe onely but to the helpe of all that want my furtheraunce That laying vppe a good foundation in the ende I may leaue the world willingly and purchase through Jesus Christ thy kingdome eternallie Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer to be sayd of a woman with childe As Eue thy Grandame causde thy thrall Pray to the Lord case it he shall For as by Eue thy thraldome came Christ Iesus since to â—ase the same PRay that GOD may mittigate the paines of your trauaile which by reason of the transgression of your Graundmother Eue God hath pronounced to be great saying vnto her and in her vnto you all in sorrowe Gene. 3. shall you bring foorth Childe And you daily see that th'extremity thereof doth often ende the dayes of manye a sister of yours before that howre healthfull and strong And therfore I thinke it a parte of great wisdome to prepare addresse yourselues against that howre euen to giue vp the ghost for without the mercifull helpe and fauor of almightye God you can not escape death wherefore I wish as many as are in that case to betake them humbly on their knees vnto him in harty praier without whose outstretched arme no womaÌ„s helpe can bee auailable in that behalfe pray therfore pray that God of his tender mercy will vouchsafe you an howre wherin you may be happily deliuered OH mercifull God and omnipotent father maker and Creatour of all thinges who in the beginning haddest placed mankind in most vnspeakable happines where they should haue continued had not our first parents brokeÌ„thy precept and will wherby they procured thine heauy indignatioÌ„ against theÌ„ selues their posteritye for euer so that the earth for their sakes was accursed denying thinges necessary for their vse with out their great labour industry paines and sweat of body And vnto vs the daughters of Eue for her transgression thou haste appoynted moste greeuous paines and torments of body in the trauaile of childbirth saying that in sorrowe and great paynes wee shall bring foorth childe Oh sweete Lord for as much as thou art almighty and bringest all thinges to passe according vnto thy good pleasure and shewest thy selfe in no thing more omnipotent then in the conceyuing forming and bringing mankinde into the world which although it were in the beginning ordeyned most easie by the subtilty of our continuall enemy sathan in causing our first parents to transgresse thy commaundement and to breake thy will by tasting the forbidden fruite it is nowe most painfull greeuous and perilous In so much Oh sweete Lorde as without thine especiall grace fauour and mercy it is altogether impossible to bee brought to pasâ—e our imperfection and feeblenes is such that of ourselues we are not able to endure the least of all the panges and sorrowes that dooth accompany this kinde of trauaile Wherfore sweete Lord mine humble and moste hartie desire vnto thy maiestie is that thou wouldest vouchsafe to extende vnto me and to all women in this my like case thy mercy and louing fauour to mittigate the paines thereof that we may be able patiently to endure and continue the panges of the same at the howre appointed Make that easie and light vnto vs which our desertes haue made burdensome and heauy that the burden wherewith I am now loden may fortunately be deliuered from the shoulders of my weake body Sende vs all good Lorde happye deliueraunce that we may be made ioyfull mothers And vouchsafe vnto me and to all that haue conceiued and be with Childe strength to bring foorth that which thine omnipotencie hath so wonderfully wrought in vs. Be present with vs in our trauailes Oh Lorde helpe vs most mercifull God and mightily deliuer vs. Let thy power might and loue be no lesse manifested in the deliuery then in the forming of thy creature that beeing through thy goodnes made glad and ioyfull mothers we may obteyne our perfect strength againe and liue to prayse and please thee for euermore Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A short and most necessary prayer alwaies to be sayd of one with child OH Lord whose goodnes we haue offended and deserued infinite plagues looke vpon me and pardon me laye aside thy iustice and shewe thy mercy let me haue the benefit of thine helping hande and not feele the wright of thine heauy hande Fauourably lighten me of this burden in thy good and gratious time and in the howre and instaunce of my deliuery be present with mee Lorde and tender my safety through Jesus Christe Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A thankes giuing to God after the deliuery As God hath now deliuered thee So well thy prayse deserueth hee For if he had not stoode thy freende These panges of thine had wrought thine end FOr asmuch as it hath pleased almighty God of his great goodnes to giue thee good deliuerance and to ridde thee from the great paynes perril wher with thou were euen nowe afflicted Fall down humble and prostrate thy selfe in heart with the reste that are present giuing no lesse vnfeyned thanks vnto his omnipotent maiestie for his holy help in sauing thee then thou diddest or oughtest to pray for his aide happely to deliuer thee and let not the ioy or glad tydings of a son or a daughter born into the world or the departure of theÌ„ so much possesse thine heart but that it may be alwayes ready to gyue prayse o God for thy safe deliuery as did Hannah who being deliuered of a sonne giue harty thankes to God And thinke not that the extreame plunges of the very birthe beeing past thou art presently acquited of al daunger for the weaknes frailty rawnes of your health is many dayes after great And therefore what soeuer thou be tendringe thine owne safety prayse God continually praying for strength and he will giue it thee for vnthankfulnes is a meane to purchace in steeâ—e of Gods fauour his indignation to punish a newe OH almightye
things for our vse in time conuenient as by the placing the stars in heauen with the son mone their course orderly motiōs the hearbs of the field and due manner of their spring fading withering agayne The sea so inuironed compassed notwithstāding the rage force thereof kept within his limmits appointed boūds with the fishes so infinit therein both smal great the ebbing flowing therof which all serueth only for the vse seruice of man yea with out the which man coulde not continue yet especially aboue al things so great was his loue that he spared not for our sakes to giue his only son euen to dye most vndeseruedly vpon the crosse for our redemption which loue of the father therin as it moueth or shold moue a great desire of thanksgiving in vs so doth the obedience of the son giue vs a greater occasion of thankes giuinge then the tongue of any mortall man can expresse by whose acceptance of the pangs of death came the remission of al our sins as witnesseth the holy ghost the water of life which beeing sprinckled in our harts procureth vnfeyned looue whereby wee haue accesse to Christ our onely mediator to God the father Prayse God the father who made vs prayse God the sonne who redeemed vs and is our continuall aduocate to his heauenly father prayse God the holye Ghoste who hath sanctified gods electe and gyueth light vnto the hearts of all such as serue the Lord vnfeynedly OH almighty God maker and creator of all thinges conseruer of all that thou hast made and protector of all that loue thee who in the beginning madest all thinges of nothing which al rest in thine hādes haue their continuaunce beeing without whose prouidence they shold cōuert againe to nothing we yeeld vnto thee al lawd praise and glory vnto thee ascrib al power maiesty dominion who rulest all things workest al things disposest all things after thy wil to thine owne glory to our vnspeakable vndeserued cōfort who are as Pilgrims and strangers without the same thy continuall protection as creatures forsaken castawaies Lorde thine hād guideth al thinges preserueth al thinges guiueth all thinges for our vse most disobediēt stifnecked childrē who not withstanding thou through thy meere mercy loue vouchsafed in the beginning to place in the garden of happines where we shold haue cōtinued had not our firste parent by transgression made forfeiture therof so highly displeased thee that thou repēting of the makīg of vs didst drown the whole world for our sins sake yet so tender was thy loue so soone was thine anger conuerted into a desire of our saluation that thou vouchsafedst to sende into thys world Iesus Christ to redeeme vs into thy fauor again a surpassing loue where the offended shold seek attonemēt wyth the offendour for which thy singuler loue mercy in finit we can not sufficiēly thanke thee god of our cōfort nor thee sweetsaui our Iesus christ for thine obediēce for thine vndeserued humility and ardent desire of our reconciliation and eternall saluation Lorde increase my faith sende mee thy grace and endue me with thine holy spirite that I may hartely render and continually yeelde all possible thankes vnto thee not onely for creating keeping and preseruing vs hethervnto but also for reaching vnto vs thine hande of loue againe after our so greate and long disobedience I thanke thee Oh sauiour Iesus Christe redeemer and sauiour of our soules who refusedst not but most wilingly acceptedst for our sakes for our redemptiō from hell and eternall death beeing then thine enemies the approbrious death of the crosse among notorious offenders beeing often spightfully intreated buffeted spette at reuiled and most iuiuriously handled not for thine owne sweete Iesus but for our offences for our sinnes yea to purchace that by thine obedience which we lost by willfull rebellion against thyne heauenly fathers precept and will Oh good Iesu we thanke thee that it hath pleased thee to leaue the sacred mansion of thy Fathers right hand thy celestiall beeing and to put on the base attyre of a seruaunt to walke in the troublesome pathes of this miserable world and yet thinking it no robbery to be equall with God though leauing his heauenly habitation for a time according to his prouidence and heauenly knowledge to suffer heer in this vale of misery in this desert of sinne moste cruell and most shamefull abuses onely for our sins which were so odious and vile in the sight of our good God that no sacrifice or oblation coulde appeaze his wrath and deserued displeasure towardes vs for the same but thy death onely and sacrifice of thy precious and vndefiled body vpon the Aulter of the crosse who willingly sufferedst the same for our sakes notwithstanding they were so greeuous so in tollerable and odius that by reason of the extremitie and anguish rhereof thou werte constrained to sweat water and bloode Oh surpassing loue Oh loue without the which the hatred of thine omnipotent father had not been appeazed nor remooued from vs. Oh loue without the which we had beene barred of all accesse vnto the seate of mercy and woonted fauour of almightye God and continued in his heauy displeasure for euer to our vtter distruction death and damnation Oh sweete Iesus Oh healthfull comforter and giuer of health and restorer of life howe can wee but prayse thee how can we but loue thee howe can wee but magnifie and extoll thine holy name for euer who haue receiued at thy mercifull handes so vnspeakable a benefitt yea and who so tenderly louedst vs that by thy meanes without our deserts we are restored from death to life frō the deserued displeasure of our creator to his vnspeakable loue and fauour without which we had perished both body soule we haue attonement now with him that before we had so greatly offended euen God our maker without whose fauoure wee fall and without whose helpe wee perishe and passe to naught Oh sweete Iesus thou haste also taken vppon thee not onely to dye for our redemption and rise againe for our Iustification and to place vs in the sweete mansion of thine heauenly knowledge But haste also promised to continue our mediatour to thine heauenly father for euer while wee mortall men liue sinners on earth making continuall intercession for vs that he will vouchsafe neuer to withdrawe his louing countenaunce from vs his poore creatures but to be our Castell staye and strong refuge vnto the ende Oh Lord Iesus Christ we giue thee thankes not onely for that thou haste beene for a time heer present with vs on earth to manifest thy selfe vnto vs by the visible showe of thine humanity but in making the cause of thy comming certainly known vnto vs which was indeed in that thou wast verie God to call vs from blindnes error wherein we walked according to the will of sathā to take